Garment-stretcher.



PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906. T. T. HALL. GARMBNT STRBTGHER. APPLICATION FILED AUG.1B, 1905.

l l 5f@ f I.....IIUIHI'J UNITEDr STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GARIVIENT-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

i Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

Application filed August 16. 1905. Serial No. 274.461.

The invention relates to animprovement in garment-stretchers, and particularly to a device adapted in use for stretching trousers. The main object of the invention is the production of a trousers-stretcher arrangedto clamp and support the trousers and adapted to apply a uniform and yielding pressure to distend or stretchthe garment.

Another object of the invention is the productionV of tension means for the stretcher,l

constructed and arranged tofbe readily and' conveniently adjustable to any degree-intermediate its extremes, wherebyvthe stretching tension may be varied to suit the requirements of the particularl garment.

Another obj ect of the invention is the pro- .duction of means whereby'one of the clamping members is adapted for independent movement relative to the other clamping member, whereby the tension ofthe stretcher will be equally applied to the garment without particular regard to the proper set of the latter in the stretcher.

- The preferreddetails of-construction of the present invention will be specifically described in the following specification, reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a perspective view illustrating a trousers-stretcher constructedin accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 isa ver-tical central section of the same centrally broken'out,

and Fig. 3 is a broken rear elevation of the upper clamping member.

Referring to the drawings, it will be noted that my improved trousers-stretcher comprises, essentially, three. distinct parts*an upper clamping member, adapted to receive the lower end of the trousers, a lower clamping member, adapted to receive theupper or' waist portion of the trousers, and a brace member, movably connecting the clamping members and arranged to maintain said clamping members separated under a yielding tension.

The upper clamping member comprises two plates, hereinafter termed the baseplate l and face-plate 2. The baseplate is-,of relatively greater thickness and length than the face-plate to provide desired rigidity of structure at this point.. The surface of the .base-plate next the face-plate is formed with a curved depression 3, arranged transversely of its length and so positionedr asto receive and accommodate the longitudinal or side seam-of the trousers-legs when ythe trousers are in position, and the inner surface of the face-plate is reduced or cut away at 4 to accommodate the extra thickness of material incident to the use of wear or binding tapes at the inner bottom edge of the trousers-legs.

The upper edge of the base-plate is provided with forwardly-projecting lips 5, designed to be engaged by eyes or loops 6, secured in the upper edge of the face-plate, whereby to provide for convenient assembling of the parts in proper relative positions and to guard against independent movement of the faceplateexcept in a direction at right angles to the plane of the base-plate, as will be obvious. The clamping pressure between the plates l and 2 is secured through the medium of clamping-arms 7, provided in duplicate and arranged at the respective ends of the plates. Each arm, preferably of spring metal of the desired strength, is practically of U shape, having one terminal secured to the rear or outer side of the base-plate, the other or free terminal of the arm being of a length and so arranged as to bear upon the outer surface of the face-plate when the parts are assembled. rllhe clamping-arms are pivotally secured to4 the base-plate and are adapted to be swung to a position to arrange the clamps longitudinally of the plates 1 and 2 or at right angles thereto being limited in these movements-by stops 8, properly positioned on the outer side of the base-plate adjacent the pivot of the-arms. In the first position of the clamping-arms the free terminals thereof bear with the desiredspring-pressure upon the outer surface of the face-plate, clamping the latter securely to the base-plate, while in the second position the arms are turned to remove their free terminals entirely out of contact with theface-plate and permit the separation of the latter from the base-plate. 'A block 9 is pivotally secured to the outer surface of the base-plate and approximately centrally of the length thereof and when in operative position depends below the upper clamping member to provide for the receptionl IOO IIO

' block with the upper clamping member is an importantI and material feature of the present invention in that it provides for the application of proper tension to the trousers without regard to their exact and particular position in the stretcher. A supporting-hook 10 is preferably secured in the upper end of the block to provide a medium for supporting the stretcher as a whole.

The lower clamping member comprises a base-plate 1,1, a face-plate 12, and clampingarms 13, said plates and clamping-,arms being similar to the corresponding parts of the upper clamping member, with the exception that the approximate faces of the plates are plane. The face-plate 12 of the lower clamping member is provided near each'end and in alinement with the lower edge with a lugl or stop 14, preferablyin the form of an elongated strip secured to the outer side of the plate 12 in a manner to provide an oflset from the plane of said plate. These stops are arranged to underlie and contact with the free terminals of the clamp-arms 13 when the latter are in clamping position thereby preventing an independent upward movement of the plate 12 when the trousers are positioned in the stretcher, it being obvious that the strain incident to the use of the stretcher tends to draw the face-plate upward, which movement is effectually prevented by the use of the stop referred to. v

The brace member, which is designed to force the respective clamping members apart when the stretcher is in use, comprises a tubular section 15'and a rod-sectionl 16,-arranged to telescope within the tubular section. The rod-section is provided for the lgreater portion of its length with a series of transversely-arranged openings 17, designed to receive a key 18, which is inserted through a longitudinal slot 19, formed in the tubular section 15 near the upper end of the latter. The slot 19 is of suflicient length to permit the desired movements of the parts during the stretching operation, and, if preferred, the rod-section may be graduated in inches or the like to provide for the proper initial adjustment of the parts, as hereinafter described. A short length of the material of the tubular section 15, cut away and providing the slot 19, is left integral with said section and bent outwardly thereform to provide a lug 2O at the upper end of the slot 19.

The tension medium of the stretcher comprises a coiled spring 21 of a size to snugly encircle the tubular section of the brace member. The upper end of the spring is connected to a clamp-b ar 22, formed with a transverse opening 23, slightly greater in diameter than the diameter of the rod-section 1G. When assembled, the clamping-bar is arranged at right angles to the length of the rodsection, being slidably connected therewith through the medium of the opening 23, said e tio/129 clamping-bar being of a length to extend a short distance in each direction from said rodsection. The upper terminal of the coiled spring is secured to one end of the clampingbar by any suitable connection, the opposite end of said bar being suitably formed to provide a finger-grip 24.

The brace member is adapted for removable connection with respect to the clamp members through the medium of connectingplates 25, secured, respectively, to the upper end of the rod-section and to the lower end of the tubular section. Each of these plates comprises a horizontal portion 26, centrally of which the respective ends of the rodsection and tubular section are secured, the horizontal portion of the plate being of sufficient dimensions to project radiallyA beyondthe surface of the respective sections of the brace member to provide a broad bearingsurface for the clamping members. The remaining portion of the plate comprises a spring-section 27, extending approximately parallel with the respective sections of the brace member, but slightly offset therefrom, the free ends of said sections 27 being flared or turned outwardly away from the section of the brace member to which they are connected. Studs 28 project vertically and centrally from the horizontal portion 26 of the plate, said studs extending in longitudinal alinem'ent with the sections of the brace member, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. member at the upper end is connected to the upper clamping member through the engagement of the stud 28 with an opening 29, formed in the lower end of the swiveled block 9, the spring-section 27 of the plate at this point bearing against the face or outer surface of the swiveled block and engaging a pin 30, projecting from the face of the block, an opening 31 being formed in the spring-section for the reception of the pin 30. The plate provided at the lower end of the tubular section 15 is arranged for similar engagement with the base-plate of the lower clamping The brace IOC TTO

member,- and an opening 32 being provided centrally of said base-plate for thereception of the stud 28, the spring-section 27 of the plate bearing on the outer surface of the baseplate and having an opening 33 to engage a pin 34, carried by the base-plate.

By the construction described it will be noted that the brace member is fixedly connected to the lower clamping member, so that any independent movement of the latter is prevented, while the upper clamping member is movably connected to the brace member through the medium of the swiveled block 9.

In operation, assuming the parts constructed and arranged as-described, the 1espective sections of the brace member are ini- A proXimately equal to the length ofthe trousers to be stretched. The lower ends of the trousers are inserted in the upper clamping member, being placed upon the base-plate, and the face-plate of said member placed in position as described and the clamping-arms 7 turned to secure the trousers at this point. The upper or waist end of the trousers are similarly inserted in the lower clamping member, the trousers being slightly stretched during this operation to cause a telescoping action of the rod-section 16 within the tubular section 15, this movement of the parts being limited by the contact of the key 18 with the lower wall of the slot 19. The clamping-bar 22 is now manually adjusted longitudinally of the rod-section 16 and released, the tension exerted by the spring upon one end of the bar causing the bar to tilt, and thereby bind itself upon the rod 16, practically locking the bar to the rod. As the spring is thereby held under tension, bearing at one end against the lug 20, carried by the tubular section, and at the other end against the clamping-bar practically locked to the rod, the clamping members are foi ced apart to the limit oft he material :fixed in the stretcher.

It is obvious that the spring 21 may be readily and conveniently adjusted to place the garment under any desired tension and that said adjustment is not limited bythe arrangement of notches or similar holding means heretofore common in devices of this character. The respective movements ofthe rod-section and tubular section under the elect of the spring are limited solely by the length of the slot 19, and this slot is designed and intended to be of suflicient length to provide the maximum movement necessary.

It will be further noted that the lower clamping member is rigidly connected with the brace member, but that the upper clamping member is movably connected therewith through the medium of the swiveled bar 9. The movable connection between the brace member and clamping member is, in effect, a pivotal connection so arranged as to permit an independent swinging movement of the clamping member in the longitudinal plane oi the brace member. This feature of construction is important in that it provides for a proper adjustment of the garment within the stretcher notwithstanding the possibility of placing the lower ends of the trousers improperly in the upper clamping memberthat is, not exactly at right angles thereto-as in this event the manual stretching effected in placing the upper end of the trousers in the lower clamping member will swing the upper clamping member on its pivotal connection with the block 9, and thereby insure the proper position of the trousers between the clamping members, so that the stretching operation will be properly carried out.

When not desired for use, my improved garment-stretcher may be disconnected by separating the connecting-plates from the respective clamping members in an obvious manner and turning the swiveled block 9 in alinement with the length of the clampingplates. The rod-section 16 is wholly telescoped within the tubular section of the brace member by removing the key 18, the coiled spring 21 being moved downward until the clamping-bar 22 rests upon the upper end ofv tubular section 15. This movement of the spring is accomplished by a revolution thereof about the tubular member, causing the lug 2O to ride between the successive coils or' spring and feed the same downward upon the tubular member. In this condition of the parts three separate members are provided of comparatively the same length and of small compass, thereby ailording a convenient package for storage or transportation.

hile I prefer that the clamping members be constructed of wood, it is obvious that they may be made of metal or similar material and that the particular proportions shown and described may be varied to suit a particular garment or size of garment.

Itis equally obvious that while shown and described primarily ,for use as a trousersstretcher my improved device is also serviceable for stretching other garments, such as skirts and the like.

Having thus described the invention, what is claime as new is- 1. A garment-'stretcher comprising clamping members Jfor the respective ends of the garment, and a brace member connecting said clamping members, said brace member being pivotally connected to one clamping member and iiXedly connected to the other clamping member, said pivotal connection providing for movement of said member in the longitudinalY plane of the connected member.

2. A garment-stretcher comprising clamping members for the respective'ends of a garment, and a brace member connecting said clamping members, one of said members being pivotally mounted with relation to the brace member, and the other of said members being iixed with relation thereto, said pivotal connection providing for movement of said member in the longitudinal plane of the connected member.

3. A garment-stretcher comprising clamping members for the respective ends of the garment, and a brace member connecting said clamping members, said brace member comprising a tubular section and a rod-sec- IOO IIO

IIS

tion,`the tubular section being iixed with relai 4. A garment-stretcher comprising clamping members, and a brace member connecting said clamping members, said brace member comprising a tubular section, a rod-section slidably mounted therein, means for limiting the movement of the rod member with relation to the tubular section, and a spring encircling said sections and bearing at one end against the tubular section, the opposite end of the spring being adjustably connected to the rod-section.

5. A garment-stretcher comprising clamping members, and a brace member connecting said clamping members, said brace member comprising a tubular section and a telescoping rod-section, means for limiting the telescoping movement of the rod-section in both directions, and a spring bearing at one end against the tubular section and secured at the opposite end to a clamping-bar adjustable longitudinally of the rod-section.

6. A garment-stretcher comprising clamping members, and a brace member connecting said clamping members, said brace member comprising a tubular section and a rodsection slidably mounted therein, the tubular section being formed with a longitudinal slot and the rod-section with a series of transverse openings, a key projecting through said slot and engaging one of the openings in the rod-section,- a spring encircling the sections and bearing at its lower end against the tubular section, a clamping-bar slidably engaging the rod-section, the upper end of the spring being connected to said bar beyond the p ane ol' the rod, whereby the tension of said spring when adjusted will clamp the bar to the rod.

7. A clamping member for garmentstretchers comprising a base-plate, lips proj ecting at right angles from said base-plate, a face-late designed Jfor contact with the baseplate and provided with loops to receive said lips, and clamping-arms pivotally connected with the base-plate and designed to bear upon the outer surface of the face-plate.

8. A garment-stretcher comprising clamping members, a brace member connecting said clamping members, locking-plates carried by the respective ends of the brace member to engage the clamping members, one of said locking-plates engaging' a block swiveled to one oi' the clamping members.

In testimony whereof I aliX my signature in presence of two witnesses v TUDOR T. HALL. l/Vitnesses:

KATHARINE ALLEN, IRVING KING. 

